Outdoors Alliance for Kids
In late February, Sierra Club staff joined the Steering Committee for the Outdoors Alliance for Kids (OAK) to hit the Hill and meet with Members of Congress to advocate for a variety of bills related to expanding youth access to the outdoors. As a leading national alliance of 100+ businesses and nonprofits representing 60+ million people across the U.S., OAK knows firsthand the importance of connecting children, youth, and families with the outdoors.
Steering Committee members talked with Congressional staff members about a variety of bills, including implementation of the EXPLORE Act, passage of the Every Kid Outdoors Act and the PLAY Act, and introduction of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act.
For EXPLORE Act implementation, OAK advocated for the continued funding of federal agencies that support EXPLORE initiatives, such as the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service. The full funding of these agencies is integral for faster permit processing, the evaluation and implementation of new development projects, and the safety and enjoyment of visitors.
OAK members also advocated for the passage of the Every Kid Outdoors Act. This act would enshrine Every Kid Outdoors, which provides free park passes for 4th graders and their families, and expand the act to include 5th graders and homeschooled students. This program, which expands access to public lands for young people and ensures funding for future years, is an important OAK policy priority.
OAK members also discussed the PLAY Act, which would establish an interagency task force on youth health and wellness that would study how to create more parks, playgrounds, and green spaces across the U.S.
Lastly, Steering Committee members promoted sections they hope to be included in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill. This included the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) – which helps fund Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program – the Transit to Trails Act, and increasing the amounts given to a variety of grant programs that fall under the Reauthorization Bill.
OAK is looking forward to continuing advocating for OAK policy priorities for the 2027 fiscal year appropriations at our upcoming Hill Day in March 2026.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to support our advocacy efforts and get engaged. Contact julia.hurwit@sierraclub.org to learn more.